2012 Mazda3 GS

Written by: Sammy Chan

Photography by: Sammy Chan

Despite all the hype about Hybrids these days, there’s no better way to reduce fuel consumption than to make engines or better the whole car more lean and efficient. It is thus a joy to see that a car manufacturer has done exactly just that- make improvements in every way possible to ensure that their vehicles are as fuel efficient as can possibly achieved. This manufacturer is Mazda.

Enter a term- SKYACTIV that undoubtedly will be the most frequently mentioned of name in Mazda vehicles for years to come. SKYACTIV is used (by Mazda) to describe a technology or rather a host of changes/improvements made to the engine, transmission, body and chassis to not only improve fuel efficiency but to also reduce emissions and to enhance driving and safety dynamics.

The first Mazda vehicle to employ SKYACTIV is the current generation of Mazda3. On the list at second place will be the all-new Mazda CX-5 which will arrive on our shores in spring of 2012. According to Mazda, SKYACTIV will be gradually and eventually adopted by most if not all of their products, both in gasoline and in diesel variants.

Apart from being only available in Mazda3 for now, SKYACITV is also only available in GS trim but you can have it in both sedan and hatchback (Mazda3 Sport) versions. For 2012 model year, Mazda3 and Mazda3 Sport are marketed as follows:

Body

TRIM

SKYACTIV

ENGINE

MSRP

Mazda3

GX

NO

2.0-Litre I4

$15,595.00

Mazda3

GS

YES

2.0-Litre I4

$18,995.00

Mazda3

GT

NO

2.5-Litre I4

$23,695.00

Mazda3 Sport

GX

NO

2.0-Litre I4

$16,595.00

Mazda3 Sport

GS

YES

2.0-Litre I4

$19,995.00

Mazda3 Sport

GT

NO

2.5-Litre I4

$24,695.00

Most of the fuel-saving benefit of SKYACTIV technology comes from the all-new SKYACTIV-G (G stands for gasoline whereas D stands for diesel) 2.0-litre DOHC 4-cylinder engine. To maximize combustion efficiency, this engine is designed with multi-hole injectors and unique piston cavity shapes, dual sequential valve timing is also employed to reduce pumping loss.

Thanks to better construction methods, the engine is 2 kg lighter than the 2.0-litre MZR used on the GX models. Combined with an increased compression ratio of 12.0:1, both maximum power and torque are also stronger than the MZR engine. At 6,000 rpm, the SKYACTIV engine pumps out a maximum of 155 horses and at 4,100 rpm, it delivers 148 lb-ft of torque, better than the MZR by 5% and 10% respectively.

Fuel consumption improvement is what matters most with this innovative design and technology and here is where the newly designed transmissions come in handily. When combined with the SKYACTIV-MT manual 6-speed, the Mazda3 sedan GS has an EPA rating of 7.7L/100 km city and 5.0L/100 km highway, while rating for Mazda3 Sport is Hwy 7.6L/100 km and City 5.1L/100 km.

My test car is equipped with the new SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission which is a $1200 option. In an effort to eliminate problems usually associated with a conventional automatic like torque converter slip, slow shifting and rough downshifts, this new automatic uses both torque converter and lock-up clutch in the same system. Furthermore, a drive control system is utilized to ensure that no matter how heavy your foot is on the accelerator, the right amount of torque is always delivered. As a result, fuel economy of the 2012 Mazda3 Sport GS is much improved compared with the GX achieving an EPA estimate of Highway 7.1L/100 km and City 5.0L/100 km. In addition, shifts are also quieter and smoother than before.

Mazda3 did not have all the "bells and whistles" of SKYACTIV technology, we will have to wait for the CX-5 to experience that in full force. In spite of this, the body of 2012 Mazda3 has been further reinforced to increase rigidity leading to improved handling and stability. New safety features have been added to Mazda3 GT and MAZDASPEED3 models in the form of Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Adaptive Front-Lighting System (AFS).

First adopted by Volvo and now very popular on mostly high-end vehicles, BSM has proved to help drivers in avoiding accidents during a lane-change maneuver. Mazda's BSM employs radar sensors located at the rear of the vehicle to detect approaching vehicles within a range of 13 feet to the left or right, and within 26 feet from the rear. When a vehicle is detected entering the blind spot area, indicator lamps in the exterior mirrors will light. If a turn signal is activated while the indicators are lit, they flash and a buzzer serves as an additional warning. Auto-leveling bi-xenon headlights in AFS shine a wider path during cornering to enhance visibility and safety.

After having been on the shelves for nearly 3 years, this second gen Mazda3 is still the best looking car in the compact segment. The way I “see” it, there’s definitely no need for any changes to its exterior. However, Mazda has not let its designers sit idling, they have adorned the 2012 models with a new front fascia and a revised five-point grille opening. Mazda enthusiasts take notice- the distinctive fog lamp has now been changed to a rounded shape but my test car is not equipped with one.

Instead, it stands itself apart from other Mazda3 by having a transparent blue ring around the centre lens of its headlights and a rather small “SKYACTIV” badge at the rear of the vehicle. The 10-spoke 16-inch aluminum wheel is also unique to SKYACTIV models. Raise the hood and you will find the most distinguished element of all the unique features given to its appearance- a deep blue metallic paint finish engine cover. Why can’t all engine covers be as colourful as this?

The interior has also been refreshened with changes made to the instrument cluster and panel, gauges, climate-control switches and even the ventilation louvers on the centre panel. Revised look has also been extended to the seats which now feature a new three-dimensional fabric pattern creating a high quality feel and look to it. Besides having a sporty appearance, the seats are also comfortable with adequate lateral and lumbar support, though it would be nice to see it having an adjustable lumbar support feature. What's pleasing is the infinitely adjustable heated seats ( from 1 to 5 with infinite variations in between) providing both the driver and front passenger with a wide choice of heat gradation, faring so much better than those that just offer 2 or 3 steps of adjustment.

Without a GX model available for side by side testing, it's futile to say how better the Mazda3 SKYACTIV is in terms of performance compared to a similar displacement engine. One thing for certain is that the SKYACTIV engine is unexpectedly very quiet at idle, the near "hybrid" silence is unfound in non-hybrids south of $50K. Acceleration of the SKYACTIV is both strong and willing throughout the whole rpm range, shifting and operation of the new automatic is smooth and matches the engine characteristics very well. At 100 km/h, the engine spins at 1800 to 1900 rpm showing that gearing is quite "tall" to further conserve energy. The Mazda3 SKYACTIV has an European-like ride and handling characteristic, handling is first-rate to be only excelled by a Volkswagen Golf and scored better than a Honda Civic and a Toyota Corolla. Turn-in at corners is sharp and responsive, steering is direct and has a linear on-centre feel. All-in-all, the Mazda3 SKYACTIV is an excellent compact car in ride and handling.

If the Lexus CT 200h is a bargain at $31K which I thought it was before this road test, the Mazda3 SKYACTIV is certainly a steal.